Graphic Communications Program

2011-12

Program-Level Student Learning Outcomes (PSLOs)

Students who have completed the Graphic Communications program at LMC will be able to:

Demonstrate appropriate and safe practices in various two-dimensional media, three-dimensional media, and studios.

Present, explain and justify their conceptual design solutions using the vocabulary of design elements and principles, and critique the solutions of others in a thoughtful, constructive manner.

Research and synthesize examples of historical and cultural products with their own ideas in order to improve their creative process.

PSLO Assessment Report Summary

The Graphics Program had these 4 research questions:

What courses are students successfully completing?

Are a Fine Arts Major?

Are you a Graphic Communications Major?

At what proficiency level is the student?

We wanted to establish a base point for our current students in order to evaluate the various areas of the program. Areas such as whether the fine art/graphic communications majors have completed the core courses for the AA or certificate. Do more completed classes create more “above proficient” students.

What we did

Students in the Graphics courses were given survey to complete. Students enrolled in:

In this survey the graphics program wanted to establish what courses students were successfully completing, whether the student is an art/graphics major, and their level of proficiency. The students’ proficiency was noted by the instructor after the surveys were collected. By sampling such a broad array of graphic communication courses, the program can receive data from students who may be taking courses out of sequence.

What we learned about our students:

Of the 102 students,

41.1% are above proficiency (42 students)

79.4% meet proficiency (81 students)

20.6% are below proficiency (21 students)

Average number of courses for...

4.61 classes is the average number of art/graphic classes taken by above proficiency students

4.02 classes is the average number of art/graphic classes taken by meets proficiency students

3.04 classes is the average number of art/graphic classes taken by below proficiency students

3.33 classes is the average number of graphic communications classes taken by meets proficiency students

2.79 classes is the average number of graphic communications classes taken by meets proficiency students

2.19 classes is the average number of graphic communications classes taken by below proficiency students

1.28 classes is the average number of fine art classes taken by above proficiency students

1.23 classes is the average number of fine art classes taken by meets proficiency students

.85 classes is the average number of fine art classes taken by below proficiency students

100% of students who completed 3+ courses in Art History (Art 5, 6, 7, 8) were proficient

What we learned

What we learned in these results is that the 80% of students who successfully complete 3 or more graphics classes, were above proficiency. We also learned that many of the graphics students that 70% of students who successfully complete 2 or more art studio/history courses, were above proficiency. All students who completed 3 or more ART 5, 6, 7, 8 courses were proficient or above proficiency.

What we plan to do

The results of this assessment will assist faculty in encouraging graphics students to take more courses in the arts (both graphic communication and studio arts). The department is creating events to host art awareness and counseling students one to one, to improve the declaration of graphic communications/art/art history majors, to fast track their education plan, and to support their career pathway. In our findings we have realized that the students have had more of a “cafeteria” style pathway as opposed to a streamlined direct path to AA, transfer, or certificate.